Japanese man being tested for possible Ebola infection

Via Xinhua :

" The Health Ministry said Monday that a Japanese man who returned from Sierra Leone earlier this month is being tested for possible Ebola infection after he developed a fever earlier in the day.

Local media reported that the man in his 30s said he had no direct contact with Ebola patients but he "touched with his bare hands" a bag containing a body on Dec. 17 during a burial in the epidemic-hit country.

He stayed there for eight days through Dec. 21, said the Kyodo News, adding he returned to Japan on Dec. 23 and has since stayed at home at the request of authorities."

China : Four more bird flu deaths reported

Via The Standard :

" Four mainlanders have died of H7N9 bird flu and three have been infected, taking to 454 the number of people who have been sickened by the virus across the border.

But the situation is unusual in that mainland authorities have not reported to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health any outbreaks in poultry, which should be standard.

The bird flu virus usually jumps from chickens and other birds to infect humans.

The Centre for Health Protection said last night that it had received notification of the seven new cases five men and two women aged from 36 to 81 of the H7N9 strain.

Four were in Xinjiang, two in Zhejiang and one in Jiangsu, officials of the National Health and Family Planning Commission told the center."

India : Farmers begin culling in Kerala's worst hit districts

Article via Deccan Herald :

" Amid concerns over avian influenza (bird flu) spreading to more areas in Kerala, duck-rearing farmers on Wednesday took the lead in mass culling in the affected regions of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.

In Purakkad in Alappuzha district – where thousands of dead ducks were dumped on the fields – local panchayat and farmers, along with Health Department officials, began mass burning of the dead birds. 

Later, members of an action force appointed by the Animal Husbandry Department commenced mass culling and burning of the affected birds.

Similar culling drives were also initiated in Kottayam district. At least four panchayats each in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts have been identified as flu-hit areas. The flu has also been reported in neighbouring Pathanamthitta district."

16 dengue fever fatalities in Taiwan

Via Xinhua :

" A total of 13,030 Taiwan residents have contracted dengue fever this year, with 16 deaths reported, the island's disease control authorities said Tuesday.

Among the infections, 109 are diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever, the most serious type of the disease, all of whom are from the worst hit area Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that affects up to 100 million people in tropical and subtropical regions every year, causing fever and muscle pain.

This year Taiwan has experienced its worst outbreak of the disease in the past decade, exceeding previous years, when cases rarely exceeded 2,000, according to the disease control authority."

China : Guangdong sees 1,400 new dengue fever cases in two days

Via Xinhua :

" The number of dengue fever cases in south China's Guangdong Province continues rising with more than 1,400 new cases in just two days, local authorities said.

A total of 17 cities in Guangdong have reported 7,497 dengue cases this year, reaching nearly 14 times the number of the same period last year, provincial health and family planning commission said.

The figure was 6,089 just two days ago.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital, was hit hardest by the virus. A total of 6,361 cases have been reported as of Wednesday, resulting in two deaths, the commission said."

Australian traveller tested for Ebola

Article via Radio New Zealand :

" An Australian man who fell seriously ill after returning home from a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Ebola outbreak, has been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The man, aged in his twenties has been quarantined at the Gold Coast University Hospital, the ABC reported.

Queensland Health spokeswoman Heidi Carroll said the man's test results should be known in a few hours, but he could be suffering from another fever.

"This could be a person who is presented with fever and has malaria, so it's too early to tell what this patient has so we will just have to wait and see."

India, Pune : 55 test positive for dengue on single day

Via Times of India, excerpt :

" The rapid spread of dengue continues to challenge health officials, with 55 people testing positive in the city on Wednesday the highest in one day this year. The case tally for this month is now 361, which means that an average 36 people were detected with dengue every day in the last ten days.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old woman, Ashwini Dawakhare from Parvati, succumbed to the disease at Ruby Hall Clinic on Monday. She gave birth to a baby through caesarean section the same day."

Japan : 81 dengue fever cases reported in 15 prefectures

Article via Japan Today :

" he Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Tuesday that the number of reported dengue fever cases stood at 81 in 15 prefectures as of Tuesday morning.

The ministry is working with Tokyo metropolitan government health officials to spray insecticide in three parks in Tokyo, where the disease spread by mosquitoes, is believed to have originated, TV Asahi reported.

Since the weekend, parts of Yoyogi, Shinjuku Gyoen and Meijijingu Gaien parks have been closed to the public, resulting in the cancellation of many events."

DR Congo confirms 6 Ebola cases

Article via Xinhua :

" The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi told Xinhua on Wednesday that six cases of the Ebola virus that has plagued the province of Ecuador were confirmed by laboratory tests.

"Statistics updated the field: the total number of cases reported since the beginning is 42, and six cases confirmed by laboratory, 13 probable and 23 suspect cases," said Kabange.

"The number of deaths is still 13 which five health workers. Eleven people are in isolation, six new samples were done outside of the Eight already analyzed. 168 contacts are identified and monitored," said the minister.

According to the minutes of a cabinet meeting chaired Tuesday by President Joseph Kabila, "the president also instructed the government to mobilize the budgetary resources and Avail provided against the response to this epidemic."

Hong Kong : Case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection under CHP investigation

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 29) investigating a case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection affecting an 11-month-old baby boy, and hence urged the public to maintain good personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene.

The patient, with good past health, has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since July 18 and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) on July 24 for management. He then developed convulsion yesterday (July 28) and was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day for further treatment.

The clinical diagnosis is meningitis and he is currently in serious condition.

His cerebrospinal fluid sample tested positive for Hib antigen upon laboratory testing by PYNEH.

 Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the baby boy had travelled to Manila with his family on May 4 and returned to Hong Kong on July 20. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic. Investigations are ongoing."

Malaysia : 94 Dengue Fatalities So Far This Year

Article via Bernama, excerpt :

" The number of dengue deaths this year as of last Sunday stands at 94 people, an increase of 224 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the Health Ministry.

Selangor recorded the highest fatalities at 38 people as compared to seven people last year while Johor experienced 14 deaths, double the number last year, the ministry said in a statement here today.

The ministry said Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded eight dengue fatalities as compared to seven last year."

Malaysia : Penang’s three cases of Japanese Encephalitis came from different areas, says official

Via The Malay Mail :

" The three cases of Japanese Encephalitis in Penang come from different areas in the state, Penang state executive councillor for health Dr Afif Bahardin said today, suggesting that the infections did not come from a common source.

Two cases come from George Town and Bagan Jermal in north Seberang Perai. In the third case infection is believed to have happened in Tasek Gelugor.

“There are no abattoirs or pig farms in George Town and Bagan Jermal,” Dr Alif told a press conference today.

Pigs are reservoirs for the virus that causes the disease but the Culex mosquito is responsible for passing the virus from pigs to humans."

Malaysia : Second JE victim in Penang

Via The Sun Daily, excerpt :

" A toddler in Penang has been warded at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Penang Hopsital after she became the second victim of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Penang.

The two-year-old from Bagan Jermal, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was admitted to the Seberang Jaya Hospital on June 12 before being sent for treatment here.

Penang Health Department director Datuk Lailanor Ibrahim said the girl received intensive treatment in the pediatric ICU unit.

"The girl since had been placed in the pediatric ICU unit and had received intensive treatment from the hospital," said Lailanor in a statement.

He also added that according to a specialist from Penang Hospital, the patient is recovering and is able to eat and drink."

Singapore : 'Significant increase' in dengue cases, with further rise likely - NEA

Article via Channel News Asia, excerpt :

" The National Environment Agency (NEA) has reported a “significant increase” in the number of dengue cases in Singapore, with the figures likely to rise as the weather heats up.

A total of 676 cases were reported during the week ending June 28, up from 553 the previous week, latest figures on the NEA website showed. Between June 28 and 3.30pm on July 1, there were another 265 reported cases."

Malaysia : JE kills two toddlers

Article via The Borneo Post, excerpt :

" Two toddlers, one in Tuaran and another here, died in the middle of last month due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

According to State Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi yesterday, there had been 

five cases of JE in Sabah, two of which resulted in deaths, this year.

The three other JE cases occurred earlier this year, she said.

She added that investigation had already been done on the cases and several activities had 

been carried out to destroy mosquito-breeding sites.

“We have conducted surveillance among surrounding communities, clean-up of mosquito 

breeding sites, fogging and health education,” she said.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that 16 JE 

cases were reported throughout the country this year and from the total, four have died."

Malaysia : Boy in Penang confirmed to be suffering from JE

Via The Star :

" The 12-year-old boy from Tasek Gelugor who was admitted to a private hospital here for observation is confirmed to be suffering from Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

Penang Health Department director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim, when contacted, confirmed the matter and said the boy, who is in a coma, was in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

“We have received his medical report and a test on the boy’s spinal fluid carried out by the hospital found that it was JE positive,” he said.

On Sunday, a local television station reported that the boy, from Sekolah Kebangsaan SK Kampung Selamat, was in critical condition and had fallen into a coma.

He was reported to have had high fever since May 18 and was treated at the Kepala Batas Hospital before being transferred to the private hospital."

Health Ministry records 44 H1N1 cases; no reports of coronavirus MERS in Oman

Via Times of Oman, excerpt :

" The Ministry of Health quoted its statistics to state that 44 cases of H1N1 were recorded in Oman during the second half of June 2014. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Health on Sunday said the registered cases ranged between those having minor symptoms that may not need treatment and moderate ones that need follow up at a hospital. No new deaths attributed to the virus were recorded this month.

The ministry said it has not recorded any new cases of coronavirus 'Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)' since last December."

Chinese man dies from H7N9, son infected

Via English People Daily, excerpt :

" A man in an eastern Chinese coastal city has died from the H7N9 strainof bird flu while his son is also being treated for the infection, local authorities announced onTuesday.

The man, surnamed Xin, died of acute respiratory distress and multiple organ failure onFriday, the municipal government in Yantai of Shandong Province said in a statement."

Singapore : Sharp rise in number of dengue cases last week

Via Channel News Asia :

" The number of dengue cases has seen a spike in recent weeks, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) in a Facebook post on Tuesday (May 27).

The spike comes ahead of the period between June and October, when dengue transmission rates are usually higher. As such, Singaporeans need to continue to protect themselves and help stop the dengue transmission cycle, the ministry said.

In its post, the MEWR said the hotter months of June to October usually see higher transmission of dengue here due to the shortened breeding and maturation cycles for the Aedes mosquitoes and shorter incubation periods for the dengue virus."

Malaysia : Disease outbreak in Johor Baru prison

Article via The Star, excerpt :

" A disease outbreak, believed to be meningitis, has occurred at the Ayer Molek prison resulting in at least four inmates being admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.

Johor Health and Environment exco Datuk Ayub Rahmat said on Friday that about 16 inmates had displayed similar symptoms and as many as 900 inmates had undergone medical checks so far.

“Initially there were concerns that it could be a Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) outbreak but we have confirmed that it is not."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities as of yesterday (May 22) on two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Anhui affecting two men aged 69 and 58 who are now hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 429 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (108 cases), Jiangsu (54 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (23 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (17 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

Malaysia : Two more trainees down with ILI symptoms

Via The Star :

" Two more trainees at the Dusun Minda Resort in Kuala Nerang have been found with Influ-enza-like Illness (ILI) symptoms.

“As of now, 62 trainees are being monitored by medical staff. The two joined the group when they showed ILI symptoms on Monday evening,” said camp commander Lt-Kol Hasnan Rashid.

“The good news is one of them recovered and medical staff have discharged him. He was allowed to rejoin the rest of the healthy trainees (yesterday morning).”

Lt-Kol Hasnan said the trainees under observation, including the four tested positive for H1N1 virus, were in a stable condition and that “everything is under control”.

Kedah Health Department director Datuk Dr Ismail Abu Taat concurred.

“It will take about two weeks for them to recover fully. It is not life-threatening unless it afflicts those who have health problems like lung disease and diabetes or women who are pregnant,” said Dr Ismail."

India, Rajasthan : Swine flu claims one more victim in Rajasthan, toll reaches 12

Article via Hindustan Times :

" The dreaded swine flu has claimed one more life in Rajasthan, taking the death toll in the state to 12 since April 1.

A 65-year-old man Sua succumbed to the disease at JLN hospital in Ajmer Sunday, a state medical and health report said Monday.

Of these 12 swine flu related deaths in the state, three persons each died in Ajmer and Jaipur, and one victim each in Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Pali, the report said.

Deceased included six each of men and women, all aged between 26 and 65 years."

Malaysia : Number of NS trainees in Dusun Minda showing flu-like symptoms up to 61

Article via The Star, excerpt :

" The number of National Service (NS) trainees showcasing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) from Dusun Minda Resort in Kuala Nerang, has risen from 54 to 61, seven more than reported Sunday.

Out of the 61, four have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

ILI symptoms include fever, flu, cough and sore throats.

NS director Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil reassured worried parents that its medical team had everything under control."

Three more MERS deaths in Saudi; toll reaches 160

Via The Peninsula :

" Health authorities in Saudi Arabia yesterday announced the deaths of another three people from the MERS respiratory virus, taking the country’s toll to 160.

The health ministry’s daily bulletin on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in the Gulf nation said the latest people to die were two women aged 72 and 54 and a 63-year-old man.

World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that while concern about the virus had “significantly increased”, the disease was not yet a global health emergency. Of the new cases, three had died."

Netherlands reports second MERS case

Via Xinhua :

" A second Dutch case infected of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has been confirmed, the Dutch National Institute for the Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced on Thursday.

This came just one day after the country confirmed the first case.

Both patients, who are members of a same family, had traveled together to Saudi Arabia between April 26 and May 10."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (May 14) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is a 71-year-old man who lives in Meizhou. He is currently hospitalised for treatment.

 A total of 423 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (106 cases), Jiangsu (53 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (23 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (14 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

US : Florida hospital workers being monitored after MERS exposure

Article via The Detroit News, excerpt :

" Employees at two Orlando hospitals who came in contact with a Saudi resident infected by the second confirmed U.S. case of a rare virus are being monitored for symptoms and have been told to stay home for two weeks, health officials said Tuesday.

Fifteen hospital workers at Dr. Phillips Hospital and another five employees at Orlando Regional Medical Center were being monitored at home for fever, chills and muscle aches, said Dr. Antonio Crespo, an official with the hospital system.

So far, none of them has tested positive for MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. MERS is a respiratory illness that begins with flu-like fever and cough but can lead to shortness of breath, pneumonia and death."

MERS Coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia increases to 480, including 139 deaths

Via Xinhua, excerpt :

" Saudi Arabia's registered number of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus cases has increased to 480 by Saturday, including 139 deaths, after adding six new cases and six more deaths, the country's Health Ministry said.

One of the deaths was diagnosed and died in the last 24 hours, while the rest were of previous critical cases, according to the Health Ministry portal.

Of the six new cases, one is receiving treatment at the ICU, three in stable condition and two without symptoms. Three of the new cases are from Riyadh, two from Jeddah and the rest one from Mecca.

In addition, another six cases, two men and four women, have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Besides those daily statistics, the ministry on Saturday also denied some press reports that the newly appointed acting health minister had been infected with the virus, saying the news are baseless and the minister is in good health."

Malaysia : Indonesian Man Dies Onboard AIRASIA X Flight From Jeddah

Via NTV7 News :

" A 64-year old Indonesian man died onboard an AirAsia X flight which left Jeddah en route to Kuala Lumpur last night.

The Health Ministry is now taking precautionary measures following the current spike in numbers of those affected with the Middle East respiratory virus MERS worldwide.

AirAsia X in a statement said, the family of the deceased has been informed.

The victim was believed to have been on his way home to Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur after performing the umrah.

His remains have been brought to the Serdang Hospital Forensic Unit for post mortem.

He added that most of the passengers on the AirAsia X D7 171 flight were Indonesians.

Meanwhile all the Malaysians who were onboard the same flight will undergo further preventive medical checkups in due time."

India : H1N1 Claims Two Lives in Bangalore

Via The New Indian Express :

" The H1N1 virus has claimed two lives in April, and hospitals across the city have reported 10 other cases.

Laxman (40) from Banikuppe in Ramanagaram district is the first reported fatality in Bangalore this year.

Most patients live on the outskirts of the city and seek treatment at Bangalore hospitals. The virus, which spread in 2009, claimed 17,000 lives in just a year. In 2010, the World Health Organisation said the pandemic was over and the incidence of swine flu had returned to a seasonal pattern."

Canada : Measles Outbreak Declared In Calgary, Edmonton, Central Alberta

Via Huffington Post, excerpt :

" Alberta has officially declared a measles outbreak.

After several weeks of isolated cases, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced Tuesday an outbreak of the disease in Calgary, Edmonton and Central Alberta zones.

AHS says they will offer an additional dose of the measles vaccine to children between the ages of six month and 12 months old."

Over 17,400 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease recorded in Vietnam in first four months

Via Xinhua :

" There were some 17,410 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease recorded in 62 out of 63 cities and provinces across Vietnam since the beginning of 2014, official data showed Thursday.

Statistics by the General Department of Preventive Medicine under Vietnam's Ministry of Health said that the total number of infected cases in the four-month period went down 20 percent over the same period in 2013.

However, several localities recorded a sharp increase in the number of new patients, including southern Ho Chi Minh City (up 28. 9 percent), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (34.4 percent) and Kon Tum (69.7 percent)."

No New MERS Cases in Greece – Man Home from Gulf Clear

Article via Greek Reporter :

" A Greek man who returned to Athens from the Persian Gulf tested negative Tuesday for the deadly respiratory disease MERS, which has killed dozens of patients in Saudi Arabia. The 70-year-old was being treated in a negative-pressure room at Sotiria Hospital in Athens. 

According to authorities two other people who were diagnosed with MERS-like symptoms also tested negative to the virus. The only confirmed case of the deadly respiratory disease is a 69-year old Greek man, permanent resident of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who returned to Greece on April 17 and has been in hospital since and is still in a critical condition. 

He is in a special negative-pressure isolation chamber for contagious respiratory diseases, while a spot at an intensive care unit is being made available, in case his condition deteriorates further. Doctors are using an experimental drug to deal with the patient’s condition."

Indonesian allegedly contracts MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia

Via Jakarta Post :

" The Health Ministry says an Indonesian citizen is suspected to have contracted the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) and is now receiving a medical treatment at King Saud Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The Indonesian citizen has long been domiciled in Saudi Arabia and is not on an umroh (minor haj) pilgrim. The patient allegedly infected with the corona virus is being treated at King Saud Hospital, Jeddah, since April 20,” said the ministry’s director general of disease control and environmental health, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

There are no details on the current condition of the Indonesian, identified only by the initials NA, 61.

Tjandra said however, the ministry had continued to coordinate with related Saudi Arabian authorities to monitor the case."

Hong Kong : Three patients with respiratory symptoms and travel history test negative for MERS-CoV

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

"  The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 28) investigating three suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) whose respiratory specimens were all negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.

Two of the cases involve a man aged 53 and his wife aged 52. The male patient presented with low grade fever, sore throat and runny nose on April 19 while his wife with underlying illness developed cough, fever, sore throat, headache and myalgia yesterday (April 27). They were both admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital today for management under isolation in stable condition. Both of their nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB).

They travelled to Tunisia from April 18 to 25 with transit in Dubai. They visited a zoo on April 19 and did not have direct animal exposure, but took a camel ride on April 20.

The remaining case is a man aged 56 with underlying illness. He presented with sore throat, headache, chills and rigor on April 22 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday for management under isolation in stable condition. His nasopharyngeal swab was negative for MERS-CoV upon the PHLSB's preliminary laboratory testing.

He travelled to Venice on April 18 via Doha, and to Bari, Greece, Turkey, Istanbul and Croatia by cruise from April 19 to 26, during which he had no contact with animals or patients. He returned to Hong Kong yesterday."

Malaysia : No new cases of MERS-CoV reported after incubation period ends

Via NST, excerpt :

" There are no new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reported in the country so far, making the cumulative number of the case to remain at one.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the incubation period of 14 days on other contacts exposed to MERS-CoV victim in Johor, ended yesterday.

"Cumulatively, a total of 222 contacts were detected across the country and all of them are currently in good health.

"Out of the 79 samples taken from the close contacts, none of them was tested positive for MERS-CoV," he said in a statement here today.

The only victim of MERS-CoV in the country was a 54-year-old man from Batu Pahat, Johor, who returned from the Holy Land on March 29."

Thailand : 50 die of H1N1 this year

Via Bangkok Post :

" A total of 30,024 people throughout the country have contracted Type A H1N1 influenza virus this year and 50 of them have died, according to public health permanent secretary Narong Sahamethapat. 

Dr Narong said the 30,024 cases of H1N1 were recorded from early this year to April 25 - an increase of 36% over the same period last year - resulting in 50 deaths. There were no deaths from the H1N1 virus last year."

Eight new MERS deaths take Saudi toll to 102

Via The Star :

" The Saudi health ministry announced eight new deaths from the MERS virus on Sunday taking the kingdom's death toll from the disease to 102.

A full 39 of the deaths have been this month, sparking growing public concern about the virus that first emerged in April 2012.

Among the latest deaths was a nine-month-old infant, the ministry said.

The number of recorded infections in the kingdom has risen to 339, it added."

H1N1 Flu Kills 45 In Thailand This Year

Via Bernama :

" H1N1 virus has claimed the lives of 45 people in Thailand since early this year, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

Dr. Sopon Mekthon, director-general of the Department of Disease Control at the Ministry of Public Health, said a total of 29,821 cases were reported in 21 provinces across the country from January 5 to April 19 this year."

India, Gujarat : Another swine flu case in Ahmedabad

Article via Times of India :

" The city saw a fresh case of swine flu on Wednesday. The patient in his late 50s was admitted to Sterling Hospital. The condition of the patient is believed to be stable, according to AMC health officials.

On Tuesday, the city had witnessed the fifth swine flu death.

Most of these cases are from outside the city, including two from Bhavnagar and Kheda regions."

Hong Kong : Patient with respiratory symptoms and travel history under CHP investigation

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 23) investigating a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) affecting a woman aged 30 in Queen Mary Hospital (QMH).

The patient, with good past health, has presented with fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and malaise since yesterday (April 22). She attended QMH's Accident and Emergency Department today and was admitted for management under isolation. She is now in stable condition.

Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient had travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with her family from April 15 to 21, during which she had no contact with animals or patients. Her son has had fever and cough since April 15 and his fever has already subsided. The other travel collateral has remained asymptomatic.

Her respiratory specimen will be taken for preliminary laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB)."

Malaysia : MERS scare - Intense monitoring on 15 pilgrims to continue for two weeks

Article via NST, excerpt :

" The intense monitoring on the 15 pilgrims who boarded a flight with the sole victim to die from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) recently has been extended for another two weeks.

Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said the move was to ensure the pilgrims were completely free from the outbreak to prevent any spreading in the country.

The ministry, he said, would continue to conduct the monitoring of the outbreak seriously, especially at the nation's key entry-points.

"We will do the screenings which focussed on flights from the Middle East and on those who had returned from performing their Umrah pilgrimage," he told a press conference after launching the ministry's 'Jom Aktif' programme, here, yesterday."

Saudi Arabia reports 11 new cases of MERS virus, first in Mecca

Via Reuters, excerpt :

" Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it had discovered 11 more cases of the potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including what appeared to be the first case in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

A health ministry statement said eight of the people were in intensive care, two were stable, including a 24-year-old Saudi man from the "holy capital" Mecca, and one showed no symptoms. Three of those affected worked in health care, it said."

Thailand : H1N1 kills four

Article via Bangkok Post :

" Four people have died as a result of type A H1N1 influenza virus in this northeastern province since January, the provincial public health office said on Tuesday. 

The four deaths were among 35 cases of the virus recorded from Jan 1 to Monday, according to the office."

Egyptian Camels Carry Deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Article via Bernama, excerpt :

" An outbreak of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) is a real possibility in Egypt Tuesday now that the virus has been found in camels, the Ministry of Health said.

The virus that has killed scores of people in Saudi Arabia - 93 in the Arabian peninsula, Asia, and Europe - comes from the SARS family, or bird-flu, which devastated poultry farms in Asia ten years ago.

Scientists have so far failed to make a vaccine and had only "hypothesized that the virus might live in camels"."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from CHP : 

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (April 21), an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan according to the latest report of the Mainland health authority. The male patient aged 50 is now hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 414 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (103 cases), Jiangsu (52 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (22 cases), Anhui (13 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Situation update Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Malaysia

Official press release from Malaysia Ministry of Health. Machine translated from a PDF document :

" Following the occurrence of one (1) confirmed the death of MERS-CoV infection in Johor, Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) prevention and control activities at all levels. Contact detection and monitoring activities are ongoing.

As at 21 April 2014, no new cases and no cluster MERS-CoV infection were reported from across the country, bringing the total cumulative remain as one (1) case of death. No new samples taken during the day and all your contacts under surveillance were healthy."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (April 20) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is a 55-year-old woman who lives in Shantou. She is currently hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 413 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (103 cases), Jiangsu (52 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (21 cases), Anhui (13 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Malaysia : MERS under control

Via NST :

" The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak that hit the country and claimed its first victim last week is under control, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said all suspects, including 64 villagers from Kampung Bintang, Johor, tested negative for the disease.

However, he said, the ministry would continue to monitor the 18 passengers who travelled with the victim on a Turkish Airways flight.

"We have completed the special screening to detect the virus among the flight passengers, as well as in the village, where the first Malaysian victim who succumbed to the virus came from. All of them are clear of the disease.

"However, we will continue to monitor the others on the flight for another two weeks as they had made close contact with the victim," he said here yesterday.

Malaysia recorded its first death related to MERS after a 54-year-old man contracted the MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) while performing umrah in Mecca.

The victim from Johor, who returned to Malaysia from Jeddah on March 29, developed a fever and respiratory problems and was warded at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Bahat on April 10. He died three days later.

Dr Subramaniam said this was the first case in Malaysia and the ministry had taken it seriously to prevent the disease from spreading.

On the cause of the disease, he said there was a high possibility the victim had contracted the virus from camels during his visit to the Middle East."

Malaysian pilgrims declared free from MERS viral infection

Via The Malay Mail :

" Fifteen Malaysian pilgrims were declared free of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after an health checks showed they did not have any signs or symptoms of the disease.

The pilgrims had returned to Malaysia from the Holy land with a man who died of the virus."

Malaysia : MERS virus - No new case detected, says Johor health department

Article via The Star, maybe its too soon to count the chickens before they hatch :

" The state health department have not detected any new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) here.

State Health and Environment executive committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat assured that the virus was under control and said that things were looking good.

"It is however up to the health ministry to make an official declaration that the affected area is safe," he said after flagging off participants of a health run at the Hospital Sultanah Aminah here on Saturday.

Ayub added that so far the virus had killed a 54-year-old man last Sunday and other than him only one other person had been hospitalised after he was found to have symtoms of the virus.

" The man is a village head from Batu Pahat but he has since been discharged," he said.

He added that the house observation period for the 64 villagers in Kampung Bintang, Batu Pahat would also be lifted soon if they do not display symptoms of the virus.

"They are supposed to be under observation for a week," he said adding that the period ends on Sunday."

Malaysia : Life as usual despite MERS-CoV case

Via NST, excerpt :

" Villagers of Kampung Bintang here were carrying on with their lives as usual yesterday despite some being confined to their homes following the death of a man to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) on Sunday.

Villager Mustapha Ismail, 63, said the authorities did not place any restrictions on villagers and they were free to roam in the village.

"Only those who had direct contact with the deceased were ordered to be confined to their homes so that they can be monitored."

Mustapha said the villagers were ordered to undergo a check-up at a temporary health counter set up in the village."

Malaysia : Villagers Monitored, Not Quarantined For MERS-COV, Says Health DG

Via Bernama :

" The villagers of Kg Bintang Laut in Batu Pahat, Johor, suspected of showing early symptoms of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been placed under home monitoring and not quarantined.

Director-General of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said reports of quarantine in the local newspapers Friday were incorrect.

"Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, the term 'quarantine' means isolation or observation and includes a hospital for contagious diseases and any premise gazetted as a quarantine station by the minister.

"As such, the statement that 64 villagers were quarantined is wrong," he said in a media statement in Putrajaya."

Malaysia : 15 Malaysian pilgrims to be declared free from MERs if no signs or symptoms in 42 days

Via NST :

" Fifteen Malaysian pilgrims will only be declared free from contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) if they do not show any signs or symptoms in 42 days after being closely monitored by the Health Ministry.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said at the moment, the pilgrimage are undertaking health inspection to monitor their condition.

“After the “incubation period”, and no signs of symptoms showed, we will declare the virus as not contagious (towards other person),” he told reporters, after witnessing the handing over of six haemodialysis machine to the Haemodialysis Unit at Hospital Kajang here today.

Malaysia recorded its first MERS-CoV fatality when a man who returned from performing the umrah (minor haj) died die to the virus on April 13.

In this fatal MERS-CoV case, also the first in Asean, the 54-year-old man from Batu Pahat, Johor who returned from the Holy Land on March 29 complained of fever, cough and breathing difficulties for 10 days and was admitted to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital on April 10.

The minister said investigations found the cause of death was severe Pneumonia Secondary to MERS-CoV.

Subramaniam said the ministry are now carrying preventive measures such as monitoring those who has close contacts with the victims.

In an earlier report, Subramaniam said for the time being, the source and method of the MERS-CoV infection has yet to be identified and also there were no vaccines available for the infection.

“We were told the victim who was a diabetic had visited a camel farm but it could not be confirmed whether the virus was contracted from the animals,” he said."

Malaysia : MERS suspected in Johor village, 64 quarantined

Via The Star :

" As many as sixty-four residents in Kampung Bintang here will be quarantined for a week after some showed symptoms of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Some 100 villagers from the village, where the first Malaysian victim who succumbed to the virus came from, underwent a special screening to detect the virus here Thursday.

Johor Health and Environment executive committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said that a special screening centre has been set up in the village to screen the villagers for the virus.

"This is the first such case in Malaysia, and we take this matter seriously. That is why we are taking steps to screen the villagers to prevent the virus from spreading," he said in a press conference here.

The 54-year-old victim, the first in Asia, developed respiratory complications after returning from Mecca."

Malaysia : Health warning for passengers of March 29 Turkish Airlines flight

Via The Star :

" Those who were onboard Turkish Airlines flights TK93 and TK60 on the Jeddah-Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur route on March 29 have been advised to undergo a health screening following the death of a passenger from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

A 54-year-old man from Batu Pahat died on Sunday, three days after he was admitted to Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail following a fever, bouts of coughing and breathing difficulties.

The incident was the first in Malaysia and the cause of death had been certified as Severe Pneumonia Secondary to MERS-CoV, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam disclosed yesterday.

“The victim had developed respiratory complaints after returning to Malaysia from performing the umrah in Mecca. The ministry is undertaking precautionary and control measures, including monitoring those who had close contact with the case,” he told a press conference yesterday.

The victim is believed to have travelled with a small group of pilgrims, including his son, who is reported to be in good health."

Malaysia : Johor man first person in Asia to succumb to MERS

Via The Star :

" The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has killed its first victim in Asia, a Malaysian man who developed respiratory complications after returning from Mecca.

The 54-year-old man, from Batu Pahat, Johor, had arrived in Malaysia on March 29 after performing the umrah.

He died on Apr 13 after being admitted to the Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail for three days, following complaints of fever, cough and breathing difficulties.

Passengers onboard the Turkish Airlines flights TK93 and TK60 on the Jeddah-Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur route on March 29 are urged to contact the Health Ministry for a health screening, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (April 15) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The patient is a 30-year-old man who is currently hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 408 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (102 cases), Jiangsu (49 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (21 cases), Anhui (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (April 14) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Jiangsu from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The patient is a 52-year-old man who is currently hospitalised for treatment.

A total of 407 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (102 cases), Jiangsu (49 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (20 cases), Anhui (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Japan : 112,000 chickens culled at Kumamoto farms in bid to curb bird flu outbreak

Via Japan Times :

" Racing to contain an avian flu outbreak, about 400 workers culled 112,000 birds at two Kumamoto chicken farms from Sunday night through Monday morning.

After bagging up live chickens, the workers, including 200 Ground Self-Defense Force personnel, gassed them with carbon dioxide and buried them at the two farms, one in the town of Taragi and the other in the village of Sagara.

At least 1,100 chickens at the Taragi farm were apparently struck down by an H5-type avian flu virus between Friday and Sunday morning.

The Kumamoto Prefectural Government ordered 56,000 chickens culled at the Taragi farm and another 56,000 at the nearby farm in Sagara, run by the same operator."

Expat dies of MERS in Jeddah; 8 infected

Via Saudi Gazette, excerpt :

" A foreigner has died from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) while eight people including five health workers have been infected in Jeddah, where the spread of the coronavirus among medics has sparked panic.

The death of the 45-year-old man, whose nationality has not been disclosed, brings the nationwide toll in the world’s most-affected country to 68.

The Health Ministry late Saturday announced the death of the man and said five health workers – two women and three men – and three other people had been infected by the virus in Jeddah.

The announcement came days after panic over the spread of the virus among medical staff led to the closure of the emergency room at the city’s main public hospital."

Japan : Return of bird flu sparks cull

Article via The Standard :

" Japan has ordered the slaughter of some 112,000 chickens after bird flu infections were confirmed at a poultry farm in the south.

DNA tests confirmed the H5 strain of the virus at a farm in Kumamoto prefecture that kept 56,000 birds, after its owner reported a lot of sudden deaths among his poultry, the agriculture ministry said.

Officials also ordered the culling of another 56,000 birds at a separate farm run by the same owner after treating it as a location of possible infections.

This is the first confirmed outbreak of bird flu in Japan in three years.

But the ministry has been warning farmers about infection risks, citing the continued spread of the disease in Asia, including neighboring South Korea."